First Order Snowspeeder - TFA - Vehicles (Class II ) (Snow)

Name: First Order SnowspeederCollection: The Force AwakensNumber: N/ASource: The Force AwakensAvailability: September 2015License: Hasbro

The First Order deploys these fast, maneuverable gunboats for combat in subzero climates.

Gosh. The moment The Force Awakens line hit store shelves officially, collectors have had to adjust rather vigorously for the next chapter of Star Wars collecting. For the first time, a product launch for a new Star Wars film had little to no offerings for the hardcore collectors looking to keep the bar high with quality (and super-articulated) action figures. There are facets of collectors that will boycott figures with five points of articulation while other facets are a little more amenable and are going to give the line a chance. Everything has changed as we know it. Figures are simply articulated, vehicles have been scarily scaled down, and new approaches to round out the line with the introduction of new products have put a new generations of Star Wars collectors on the fence. Perhaps one of the more interesting ranges in The Force Awakens line is the Class II vehicles collection. For an overcharged MSRP of about $30, you can get a small and out of scale vehicle along with a pack-in figure. Perhaps it’s not the end of the world and it could be worse, but this is essentially something we would have found in the Deluxe lines just a few short years ago. Admittedly it’s a bitter pill to swallow.

It is believed that Hasbro is taking their own liberties with the vehicles that make up the Class II range. All this means is that supposedly not all of them are going to be seen in The Force Awakens. But that’s only a rumor and until the film is out it’s better to not have opinion on this just yet. The First Order Snowspeeder Class II vehicle however is supposed to be based on an actual vehicle in Episode VII. We imagine we’ll just have to wait and see. Although the reality of what Class II vehicles are now is borderline grim, we have to concede that they’re well done. Plus, the addition of an ”exclusive” pack-in figure seems to make it that much less painful. The First Order Snowspeeder isn’t a terrible vehicle, but it’s small and can barely accommodate the figure that has been packed in with it. The plastic is solid, the paint job is simple but neat and there aren’t any real action features to speak of except for a removable cannon that can be placed inside of the vehicle, or removed and placed outside the vehicle for additional play. This little ensemble works well and could easily be used for an off-screen Battle of Hoth diorama and/or display. You must keep in mind that “Deluxe” or yesteryear’s Class I figure and vehicle sets are today’s Class II vehicles. It’s hard to process how we arrived at this point.

Included with the First Order Snowspeeder is a First Order Snowtrooper Commander. For the first time ever we have a Snowtrooper type of character denoted with a colorful pauldron to denote rank. The action figure is simple, complete with five points of articulation, but has an excellent sculpt. Likely just part of the intended look of the character, the First Order Snowtrooper Commander looks eerily like a mannequin and this is something we’re not sure if we can fully describe why we feel this way. But check it out. Something about him feels like he should be modeling clothing or something. The ball-socket head is removable which means that the pauldron is removable. His survival backpack is also removable. Lastly, the First Order Snowtrooper Commander also comes with a blaster. Admittedly, you can set up some pretty cool displays with this vehicle. The tundra white color of the figure is nicely complemented by the dark vehicle. And we imagine that when the opportunity arises to army build First Order Snowtroopers rather easily that collectors will make it a mission to do this. Don’t expect to be wowed by the First Order Snowspeeder (or the pack-in First Order Snowtrooper Commander). They’re pretty good toys, but these are in no way geared for collectors.